Surgical appliance for treating jaw and other facial bone fractures



NOV. 16, 1948. PRESTQN 2,453,934

,SURGICAL APPLIANCE FOR TREATING JAW a AND OTHER FACIAL BONE FRACTURES Filed Jan. '7, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Nov. 16, 1948. J. L. PRESTON SURGICAL APPLIANCE FOR TREATING JAW AND OTHER FACIAL BONE FRACTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. '7, 1946 CfO/V/V A P255 TON INVENTOR.

flrroQn/O Patented Nov. 16, 1948 UNITED SURGICAL APPLIANCE FOR TREATING JAW AND OTHER FACIAL BONE FRACTURES John L. Preston, Wichita Falls, Tex.

Application January '7, 1946, Serial No. 639,511

(Cl. l2887) Claims. 1

This invention relates to surgical appliances for the treatment of fractures of the jaws or other facial bones and more particularly to adjustable head gear by which various traction rods and other appurtenances may be supported and adjusted.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an adjustable head mounting for the hooks, wires and other attachments for treating facial bone fractures, the said mounting being adapted to supplant the practice of applying to the patients head a cap of plaster of Paris in which are embedded the devices necessary for the support and traction in treating certain types of jaw fractures. These plaster caps are ill ventilated and subject the patient to much discomfort.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable head gear or mounting which is well ventilated, light in weight and of suflicient strength to adequately sustain all attachments securely and maintain immobilization of the bony fragments in their proper relationship during the healing process.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable head gear for the purposes set forth, consisting of a mounting band equipped with head straps and in which is detachably mounted a sweat band with suitable provision for protecting the head against inward thrust of the elements carried by the band for sustaining the attachments thereof.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has further reference'to certain features of accomplishment which will become apparent as the description proceeds, taken in connection. with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable head gear constructed according to the invention showing one end of the liner or sweat band displaced and parts of the head straps torn away.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the band in vertical section.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the head gear on a patient, showing various attachments mounted thereon including a jaw brace.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the head gear as it appears on a patient with an attachment for the treatment of nasal bone fractures, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view, partly in vertical section, showing one of the universal clamps employed for supporting the attachment Wires on the band.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference isprimarily made to Figure 1 wherein numeral 10 denotes a band of metal or plastic, shaped to conform to thenatural contour of the head and being circumferentially discontinuous, it terminates below and on each side of the occipital protuberances and its ends are connected by means of an adjustable strap H, preferably of woven fabric, passing through slots l2, disposed at an angle to the vertical at each end of the band. Thus, ample adjustment of the band to any size head is afforded.

Along the upper border of the band it] there are four slots 13, two to the side, the foremoston each side being parallel with the border while the rearmost slots are oblique to permit intercrossing of adjustable straps Hi, which are retained in these slots, over the crown of the head, for adjustment and support of the head gear.

Intermediate the edges of the band Hi and .on each side thereof, a plurality of aligned slots 1-5 are provided. These slots accommodate metal posts I6, which are'anchored in the slots in the manner illustrated in Figures 2 and 5.

The posts are made up of a threaded pin I"! (Fig. 5) having a head 18 whoseundersurface is roughened at IS. The post it is hollow, to receive the pin l1 and is further provided with a flared base 20 which bears against the outersurface of the band I0. To prevent rotation of the post iii when secured to the band, the base 20 thereof is formed with a diemetrical rib 2 l, which is received in a slot l5 of the band 10-, as shown in Figure 2. A knurled nut 22 is threaded onto the end of pin l'l, clamping the band Ill between the head I8 of the pin 11 and the base 20 o'f the post [6, prohibiting rotative or longitudinal displacement of the post in relation to theslot' [5 in which it is mounted.

Mounted on the post 16 is a body 23, the said .post being rotatably disposedin a transversebore of smaller diameter than the bore which receives 7 the post I6. A set screw 26 enters the threaded bore 19 to bear against a wire or rod 2'! (Fig. 2) clamping the same firmly against longitudinal or rotative displacement.

The wire or rod 21' as shown in-Figure 2* is representative of any of the appliance e'xt' sion rods shown in Figures 3 1 and i,altl'u n-igli with the to the universal clamps posteriorly.

means of fasteners 36.

exception of rod 21 in Figure 3, these bear different characters of reference since they are employed for supporting different appliances.

It is obvious that to firmly grip and support an extension rod in the desired position in relation to the head band It], the post [6 is disposed so that the rib 2| on the head 20 thereof is conformably received in a selected slot l of the band, whereupon thepin I! is passed through the post from the inside of the band and the nut 22 is threaded onto the end of the pin. By tightening this nut, the heads of the pin and post are drawn tightly together to securely clamp the band therebetween. A rod of the desired type is then passed through the small bore b and the screw 26 is tightened to secure the rod in place. After orientation of the rod to properly dispose or tension the appliance supported thereby, the set screw 24 is tightened to prevent rotative or longitudinal displacement on the post l6 of the body 23. I

It is apparent from the foregoing that the universal clamps described permit easy adjustment to conform to various angulations of the extension rods 21 and at the same time hold them securely in place. By adjustment of the universal clamps to the extension rods various tractions may be provided for in the manner to be presently described.

When the nature of a fracture requires external forward traction, a protractor stirrup rod 28 may be attached anteriorly to two universal clamps, in the manner shown in Figure 3. This stirrup attachment is known as a protractor.

To procure downward and backward traction, an extension rod 21, referred to previously and as shown in Figures 2 and 3, may be attached Also, as shown in Figure 3, extension rod or stirrup 28 may, combined with ligature wires 29, provide for protraction of impacted maxilla.

Depending supporting rods (not shown) may be attached to the universal clamps and adjustably secured at their lower ends to the arms of the well known Kingsley splint for supporting a fractured maxilla. This operation usually followsthe protracting process shown in Fig. 3.

-A nasal splint may be supported by two stiff extension rods 30, as exemplified in Figure 4, ttached to two universal clamps in the forehead region and extended downwardly in a curved formation that terminates below the tip of the nose.

Extension rods may be angulated to any position where treatment of other facial bones re-' quires special traction and support by attachment to the universal clamps as described.

In Figure 3 also is shown the method of securing a jaw brace 3| to the chin of. a patient.

Hooks 3.2 are located adjacent the lower edge of the band ID on each side and loops 33, carried by strap 34 on the jaw brace 3!, are received by the hooks.

For the comfort of the patient, a felt padded sweat band 35 (Figs. 1 and 2) is provided and attached to the inner surface of the band l0 by These fasteners. are bradded through the felt lining and attach themselves directly to the counterpart on the inner surface of the head band It.

Manifestly, the construction as shown andclescribed is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appendedclaims 4 is also considered to be within the spirit and in tent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an instrument for the treatment of facial bone fractures, a circumferentially discontinuous head band of resilient material having intercrossing, adjustable supporting straps and further provided with longitudinally aligned slots on each side of its midsection, disposed midway between its edges, accessory rod mountings retained in said slots, said mountings consisting of a threaded pin receivable in a selected slot having a head provided with roughened undersurface, a post mounted on said pin having a head provided with a transverse rib receivable in a slot of said band, the heads of said pin and post opposing said band in clamping relationship, mounted on said post for rotative and longitudinal displacement thereon and receiving and retaining accessory rods, a sweat band in said head band and means releasably retaining said sweat "band.

2. An instrument supporting device in the treatment of facial bone fractures including a circumferentially discontinuous band of stiff material having a removable pad coaxially arranged therein, said band further having longitudinally aligned slots therein, intercrossing crown and occipital supporting straps connected to the upper edge and ends of said band respectively, instrument supporting clamps retained in said slots; each consisting of a pin having a head lying within said band, a hollow post axially receiving said pin, and having head providing slot engaging means to hold said post against rotation, and a body frictionally mounted on said post and retaining rods for supporting instruments in relation to said facial bone fractures.

3. In a device for supporting accessory instruments in the treatment of facial bone fractures, a head band, having longitudinally aligned slots therein, a head engaging pad rem-ovably mounted in said band, supporting straps connected to said band to embrace the head, accessory instrument supporting means movably mounted on said band, said movably mounted supporting means consisting of a pin extending through a slot in said band having a head disposed within said band and a hollow post embracing said pin and having a head provided with means for non-rotatably engaging said slot, means threaded onto said pin and bearing on said post to hold the heads of said pin and post in cla'mpingrelationship'with said band, and a universal clamp frictionally retained on said post for securing said accessory instruments in fixed proximity to the facial bone fractures under treatment.

4. A device for'supportingaccessory instruments in the. treatment of jaw and other facial bone fractures, comprising a band 'of stifi but light material having a removable pad thereon, supporting straps secured in additional slots in said band to embrace the head, said band further having longitudinally aligned slots on each side thereof, a plurality of hollow posts, each having a head provided with a transverse r'ib lying in a slot of said band, a pin extending through each of said posts having a head lying within said band, means on said pins for clampingly securing the heads of said pins and posts on said band to hold said posts against rotation and longitudinal displacement on said band and adjustable means frictionally held on said posts for immovably supporting an accessory instrument adjacent said facial bone fractures.

5. A device for treating jaw and other facial bone fractures including a head band having adjustable supporting straps and a removable sweat pad, said band further having longitudinally aligned slots on each side thereof, universal clamps mounted in said slots for retaining instrument supporting rods for rotative and 10ngitudinal adjustment, without detachment from said band, to orient instruments in relation to said facial bone fractures, said universal clamps each consisting of a pin having a threaded end, a hollow post embracing said pin, a body transversely bored to receive said post for rotative and longitudinal displacement thereon and further bored at right angles to the first bore for receiving an instrument extension rod, separate means for frictionally clamping said post and rod to hold the named parts against relative movement,

and means for positively securing said universal clamps against displacement on said band.

JOHN L. PRESTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

